The New Democrats’ ethics critic Nathan Cullen says the Liberal nomination processes unfolding in the ridings of Markham-Thornhill and Saint-Laurent reveal that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is favouring certain candidates and is failing to fulfil his commitment to open nomination contests — something he promised both during his leadership run and ahead of the 2015 federal election.

Without providing an explanation, the Liberal party rejected long-time Saint-Laurent mayor Alan DeSousa’s application to run Tuesday — which increases the chance that former Quebec provincial politician Yolande James, who reportedly has strong ties to the party, might seal the nomination.